Geofencing Tips for Colleges and Universities: Discover how colleges can use geofencing to reach prospective students near high schools, job fairs, and sporting events. Learn the best strategies for timing, location targeting, and relevant messaging to boost student engagement and enrollment!
What if colleges could connect with prospective students where they are every day—on their phones? Well, guess what? With geofencing, it’s totally possible! Colleges and universities are using this technology to reach students and their families by sending targeted ads based on their location. It’s not science fiction—this is happening right now. Let’s explore some of the best geofencing tips for colleges to boost recruitment and awareness!
In today’s mobile-driven world, students are more connected than ever, and colleges and universities have a huge opportunity to engage with them through geofencing technology. Geofencing allows a school to create a virtual boundary around a location and deliver ads to those who have entered or passed through that area. This isn’t just a gimmick – it’s a proven way to reach potential students where they are. In this article, we’ll explore 7 geofencing tips for colleges and universities that can help you deliver highly effective and targeted advertising.
1. Recruit in High School Areas
Getting your college’s name in front of high school students and their families is key to boosting admissions. Geofencing allows you to “capture” students who attend high schools that you’ve targeted, giving you the opportunity to display ads to them when they’re thinking about their future. Ads promoting admissions, scholarship opportunities, or campus tours can be sent after students have been near their school, puts your school in front of students right when they’re making critical decisions about their next steps.
Plus, it’s not just students who see these ads—parents who travel through and school staff will get the chance to learn more about your institution.
2. Promote at Sporting Events
Sporting events bring together large crowds, and many of those people could be your future students! Colleges can place geofences around stadiums or major high school sporting events. After students, alumni, or even parents enter these areas, they’ll receive ads about your college’s programs, campus life, or upcoming events.
Imagine someone attending a Friday night football game. After they leave the stadium, they start seeing ads about your open house next weekend or a scholarship opportunity. It’s a subtle but effective way to make sure your college remains front and center in their minds. A Nice Guy Marketing knows how to make these event-based campaigns work to your advantage.
3. Use Event Retargeting
College fairs, open houses, and career days are huge opportunities to reach prospective students. But what happens when the event is over? With geofencing, you can continue the conversation even after they’ve left the venue. By setting up geofences around these events, you can send follow-up ads to attendees days or even weeks later.
This kind of event retargeting is perfect for staying top of mind as students compare different schools. Whether you want to remind them to book a campus tour or check out your website for more information, geofencing ensures they don’t forget about you after the initial interaction.
4. Focus on Where Parents Work
Parents often play a huge role in helping students decide which college to attend. That’s why targeting parents is just as important as targeting students. Geofencing allows you to reach parents as they go about their day—whether they’re at work or shopping.
Setting up geofences around office buildings or popular shopping areas ensures that parents receive ads about your college’s programs, campus tours, and financial aid options after passing through. This gives you multiple touchpoints with families who are making crucial decisions about their child’s future.
5. Time It Right
Timing isn’t just about the time of day—it’s about the season. In the fall, focus on application deadlines and scholarship opportunities. During winter, highlight financial aid options as families plan for tuition. In the spring, promote campus tours and open houses as students make final decisions. Summer is a great time to push last-minute admissions or orientation info.
By syncing your ads with seasonal priorities, you’ll reach students and parents when they’re most likely to engage.
6. Demographic Geofencing
Geofencing isn’t just about location. You can also tailor your campaigns based on demographic data. Want to reach students who just graduated high school or are interested in specific majors like engineering or fashion? Geofencing can help you target these groups specifically.
You can set up a geofence around neighborhoods where high school graduates live or places where students with specific interests like to hang out.
7. Work With a Reliable Partner
Geofencing can be complex, especially for colleges and universities who are just getting started. Working with a reliable marketing partner, like A Nice Guy Marketing, can make all the difference in your campaign’s success. Experienced marketing teams understand how to set up geofences in the right areas, craft the perfect messages, and ensure that you’re reaching the right audience.
A Nice Guy Marketing is known for helping colleges and universities navigate the ins and outs of location-based marketing. They offer expert advice on building your geofencing strategy from the ground up, ensuring that you get the best results possible. By working with a trusted partner, you’ll save time, avoid costly mistakes, and see faster returns on your marketing investment.
Conclusion
Geofencing is a game-changer for colleges and universities. By using these 7 geofencing tips for colleges, you can create campaigns that are targeted, effective, and engaging. Whether you’re reaching students at high school events, parents at work, or alumni at football games, geofencing puts your message right in their hands—literally!
Don’t forget, A Nice Guy Marketing can help you navigate the world of geofencing and ensure that your campaigns hit the mark. So why wait? Start building your virtual fence and watch as students and their families take notice of your school!